Good Morning! Let us listen as Jonah prays to the Lord to explain his anger.

WHY JONAH WAS ANGRY: Jonah 4:2 “And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.”

This is the second prayer of Jonah recorded in this book. The first, a prayer of confession and repentance, was offered in the belly of the whale. But now Jonah offers a most unusual prayer. In the first part of this prayer, Jonah explains the reason why he didn’t want to go to Nineveh in the first place. We gather from this that Jonah had argued with God in the first place about preaching to Nineveh. And His reason is centered around five characteristics he knew to be true about God: He is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, loving, and relents from sending calamity.

Jonah’s understanding as expressed in his prayer is sound. His thinking about God is not warped. He was a prophet, and he knew from personal experience that if the wicked of Nineveh would only change their attitude toward God, He would forgive them. This was the reason he did not want to go to Nineveh to preach. He was angry at the compassion of God. Jonah’s complaint ended with, “Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” There is a definite relationship between hatred for others and pity for oneself.

This complaining prayer of Jonah sounds like the prayer of Elijah when he felt he had been a failure in his ministry: “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers” (1 Kings 19:4). Jonah’s problem was spiritual myopia (near-sighted, a lack of discernment or long-range perspective in thinking or planning). All he could see was himself. All he could think about was what was best for him. He was consumed with Jonah. As we look around at our generation, this problem is rampant, even in the church. Here is what Jonah didn’t realize: we get our needs met in life only by meeting the needs of others. Jonah would get over his hatred of the Assyrians only by ministering to them.Read Thru The BibleClick the links below to read today's Bible verses online:1 Kings 1617 2 Corinthians 3

Good Morning!We see the Lord’s attitude toward Jonah was the same long-suffering attitude that He had exercised toward the wicked city of Nineveh.

GOD ASKS JONAH A QUESTION:Jonah 4:4 “Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry? 5. So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.”

In verse 4, God is saying, “Jonah, let me ask you a question. Do you have a right to be angry?” The Lord’s question was designed to restore the backslidden prophet to a proper compassion for people and a right relationship with God. Jonah didn’t say a word. He was no longer speaking to God. He was so mad at God he wouldn’t even respond to the question. Instead, he went deeper into self-pity, staging a sit-down demonstration outside of the city. God answers in a silent demonstration. No words were spoken in the next two days but a great amount was said in silence.

So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city. By leaving the city, Jonah was turning his back on everything God was doing in Nineveh. People everywhere were repenting and calling out to God. Everywhere Jonah looked he saw the results of the mercy and grace of God to these wicked Assyrian people, and he could not handle it. He went up on a hill under a little temporary shelter so he could have more time to pout and pity himself. Jonah didn’t want anything to do with what God was doing in Nineveh.

This whole book is about God trying to get through to the heart of Jonah, which seemed harder now than when he was in the whale. At least in the belly of the whale he had developed a repentant spirit and was crying out to God. But now he was hardhearted again and God was going to teach him the final lesson. What is about to happen now is the whole point of the Book of Jonah. We must watch lest the same spirit, or attitude, come upon us and God has to somehow bring us back to a point so we can renounce the anger or resentment against someone.

Good Morning!In this devotion we will see the silent way God spoke to Jonah in His kindhearted act of causing a gourd vine which sprang up very quickly to shade him and then sending a cut-worm to cut the vine down, then the hot sun and a violent wind.

SILENTLY, BUT MAJESTICALLY GOD SPEAKS TO JONAH: Jonah 4:6. “And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. 7. But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.8. And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.”

The Lord God prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery. So Jonah was very grateful for the plant. This particular gourd vine grew up miraculously to provide shade for Jonah, this made him “very grateful.” For the first time in the book we find Jonah happy and thankful—and it was because he was in the shade. He was more excited about this gourd than he was about getting disgorged from the whale. This gourd was the first of three things God used finally to get Jonah where he needed to be.

The second thing He prepared was a worm that gnawed on the gourd and caused it to die so that Jonah had no more shade (Jonah 4:7). And then the Lord prepared the third thing: “And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah’s head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, ‘It is better for me to die than to live’. Now Jonah was really mad! God gave him shade, and then He took it away and sent a scorching wind and sun to burn Jonah up. I can just hear Jonah saying, “God, if you were going to take it away, it would have been better if you hadn’t given it to me in the first place.”

We are like Jonah in a lot of ways. We get attached to the gourds of our life and let them get in the way of doing God’s will. When we do that, we need to remember two things. God does gourds, and God does worms. And if we will not release that gourd to the control of the Spirit of God in our lives, He will send His prepared worm to teach us a lesson.

Good Morning!A gourd, and all material things, are here today and gone tomorrow. But the souls of human beings are made in the image of God

JONAH HAD PITY ON A VINE YET NO PITY FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE:Jonah 4:9. “And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. 10. Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: 11. And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

God was using the gourd as a silent lesson to show Jonah why He did not destroy the city of Nineveh, its people, and its animals. There was a single gourd, and thousands of people. The plant was a few hours old; the souls of the people were eternal. Jonah was angry at the loss of a plant, but was unconcerned about the loss of an entire city of people. While we don’t know what ultimately happened to Jonah, I think his heart finally broke over his lack of compassion for Nineveh.

I wonder sometimes if God doesn’t want to break our hearts. Look at all the things we get so captivated with, so excited about, the things we wrap our arms around. We live and die with these things, while all around us there are people who need Jesus. There are children who need to be taught. There are ministries that need to be accomplished that have eternal value, and we are pouting over the loss of some little gourd. God wants us to get out of the temporal and get back to divine purposes. The whole purpose of this book was for Jonah to learn that he did not have the heart of compassion that God wanted him to have as a prophet.

The Book of Jonah ends without a conclusion. The final question that God asked Jonah in verse 11 just trails off into oblivion: “Jonah, is it right for you to have pity on this gourd, and not right for me to have pity on Nineveh?” And there is no resolution, no answer. I don’t think God wants us to forget this question. Is it right for us to have concern and compassion on temporal things around us when there are millions of people who still haven’t heard the Gospel? My prayer is that the Book of Jonah will have a great impact on our lives.

Good Morning!In the next few days we will look behind the scenes in the life of the Prodigal son.

THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON:Luke 15:11. “And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12. And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance.

The story of the prodigal son is one of the most familiar of all the parables. The characters step out on the stage of divine Revelation in a lively manner, act their several parts with a never-to-be-forgotten naturalness and then leave themselves on the screen of our memories as though the curtain had never fallen upon the scene. It is more than a narrative; it is a dramatized lesson of deep spiritual meaning for youth and adulthood alike. There are many approaches to the text and many applications for the message. We will study some of these in the next few days.

We observe the impatience of the son, the impartiality of the father, the impiety of the wanderer, the impression of home, the imperishability of paternal love, the imprudence of the brother and the importance of the return. Then, focusing the spotlight more definitely upon the prodigal himself, our attention is drawn to his demand, his departure, his downfall, his desperation, his desecration, his desire and his decision. A closer examination reveals some telling facts.

1. His vision was faulty because his outlook was bad;2. His judgment was overpowered because the wrong decision was made;3. His planning was poor because he spent all without profitable investment;4. His resourcefulness was low because he could not find employment;5. His standing was lost because he joined himself with foreigners;6. His plight was desperate because he was in great want;7. His pride was deflated because he tended the swine;8. His memory was good because he thought of home;9. His repentance was real because he returned humbly.

Going behind the scene in the life of this younger son, four outstanding facts are discovered. First, the rampage of an urge; Second, the road of the wayward; Third, the remorse of the wanderer; Fourth, the return of the penitent.

Good Morning!This young son was in reality gone from home a long time before he actually left.

THE RAMPAGE OF AN URGE:Luke 15:11. “And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12. And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.”

Foreign pastures always seem greener to dissatisfied emotions. The reports of the “far country” had been incubating in this young son’s mind for some time. It was the answer to his Utopian dream. There was wealth; there was opportunity; there was assured success, so he thought. If his older brother wanted to remain at home, that was his affair, but he, himself, would launch out. His daily tasks grew dull and irksome; his home became unattractive; his father seemed too rigid, too exacting; his whole emotional life was fast becoming unsettled. Some of his friends had set out for the “far country.” They had courage to make the break. They had been famously successful in their venture. He would have courage, too. He would also make good. The urge was constantly present.

No matter how often or how much his parents sought to dissuade him, it was of no avail. He insisted that the die was cast. His reasons for going were not well founded, and his people knew this, but he insisted. This case finds its analogy in the spiritual realm. Indeed, that is why the Saviour gave the parable, but how true to experience is the point at hand. One becomes dissatisfied with the things of Christ. The discontent grows. The church is not what it ought to be, such an one reasons; The people are no longer friendly; The preacher is inconsiderate; The doctrinal position of the church is too rigid; The viewpoint is too narrow. But the “far country” (it has everything to supply happiness, prestige and opportunity.

The pastor and the elders struggle to overcome these objections, but to no avail. The insistence of the urge to explore the recommendations of others, contrary to the Word of Truth, becomes overpowering and self-justifying. It is a struggle for self-gratification. Then the urge begins to master the thoughts. I’ve just got to go!

Good Morning!The urge to leave home had begun some time ago and the young son had it constantly on his mind. Like Lot who, “looked upon the plains of Jordan that they were well watered…” Lot did not see the awful debauchery going on in Sodom.

THE URGE WAS SUPPORTED BY PREMEDITATION:Luke 15:13. “And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country,..”

Finally the decision was made, wise or otherwise, it had been made. All that had held him this long was the advancement of the funds to venture forth—his part of the estate. Many forces had been at work. He was ill-advised by those who should have known better; he was spurred on by ill-adopted associates. Finally, sufficient boldness was developed to wage a break. He knew it would pierce his mother’s heart. He knew, too, that his father had cherished great expectations for him, but “the way of a fool is right in his own eyes” (Proverbs 12:15). His approach was not curt, but it was resolute. “Father,” he said, “give me the share of the property that is coming to me.” The father deemed it best, under the circumstances, to consent.

Let us follow this wayward son a little ways. After receiving his part of the family inheritance, he set forth on the long thought on journey. Jesus describes it as the “far country.” Now one of the greatest enjoyments of most journeys is the planning stage, the thought-out plans, the packing, the map of directions, loading the car, and pulling out of the driveway. The first few hundred miles seem to slip by without a hitch, then comes the drudgery of mile after mile of open road which never seems to have an end. No doubt the way-ward son had a great time of enjoyment at first, before the drudgery set in.

Now just one step away from home, father, mother, God, the Church, is the “far country.” Let no one dispute this. There is a leaving of something that has been a stabilizing influence for you that can be found nowhere else in the world. Let us beware of any thought of leaving these for the “far country.” Concerning those who become wayward, the Lord once declared, “Every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle” (Jeremiah 8:6). As the horse is unaware of the danger involved, and increases its pace toward the mouth of the cannon as the spurs are pressed into its body, even so the wayward person presses on, utterly impervious to the inevitable consequences of disobedience.

Good Morning!We will to take a look at some of the pot-holes that are in the road of the way-ward.

THE ROAD OF THE WAYWARD:Luke 15:13. “… and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.”

The road of the wayward is easy to enter: Yes, it is easy to enter the way of spiritual diversion. One may drift into it. As soon as one puts up the oars of Christian activity and godly exercise, one’s little craft is carried into the current of unbelief, indifference and unconcern. It’s easy to quit praying and reading your Bible which leads to indifference about going to Church, and finally quitting altogether, it’s easy.

The road of the wayward is difficult toabandon: The road away from God is always downward and it is a slippery slope which is very hard to climb back up. Notice that Jonah, when running away from God went down to Joppa, down into the bottom of the ship to sleep, down into the sea, down to the bottom of the mountains in the belly of a great fish, it was down, down, down, down. Those whom Satan draws into the snares of his seductive scheming will weep forever without his sympathy. He laughs at their anguish and delights in their disasters. He revels in the woes of those whom he weakens. He deceives but never relieves.

The road of the wayward is long and hard: How long the younger son wandered away from home is not stated. That is incidental to the picture. It seemed longer than it really was, both to himself and to those at home. One thing can be presumed with safety— he might have started back sooner. The last hindrance the Devil will throw in the course of a wanderer is that decision-preventing monster, Procrastination. When one foot is extricated from the quicksand of doubt and delay he pushes it back in until another day. Procrastination is the thief not only of time but of eternity.

Good Morning!There is no success outside the will of God and there is no failure within.”

THE ROAD OF THE WAYWARD IS CERTAIN OF FAILURE:Luke 15:14. “And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.”

The prodigal’s rush for wealth plunged him into dire need. He had nothing to show for his adventure that was uplifting or encouraging, and, after his return, he never recommended that any other young fellow should go and do likewise. His unhesitating advice would have been: “Appreciate a good thing while you have it. Foreign pastures are not as green as they appear.”

The highways of life are lined with those who are trying to run away from God. Look at the sad plight of Jonah. How successful was he while on a divergent path? To move contrary to the will of God is, in effect, to point one’s finger in the face of the Most High, saying, “Thy way is neither right nor desirable. I will devise my own course.” At once the blessing of the Lord is prevented and the life becomes shallow and blighted. Whatever may be the expressed opinions of observers, such an one is empty and useless.

The wanderer was out of funds and without help: “And no man gave unto him.” He squandered his money. It went to the very last penny. Yes, it was all gone and his dream had not come true. The world had not fallen at his feet; the fortunes of life had not come under his control; the positions of prestige had mockingly eluded his vain grasping; and where was he? Simply and undeniably in an impecunious state of physical bankruptcy. It was a grim reality to face. Where were his counselors? Where were thoseclamorous creatures who had so strongly urged him on? He was alone— alone to grieve; alone to lament. If only the spiritual application of this revealing truth could be impressed upon weak, careless Christians.

No one can feel the grip of poverty more than one who has experienced a sufficiency of all things and have it slip away. No one could be more bewildered than the one who has enjoyed the directive wisdom of the Wonderful Counselor and lost it.

Today’s First Thoughts June 12, 201Good Morning!Feeding the swine would also be but incidental to the story if it did not furnish us with a belated appreciation on the part of the younger son concerning the provisions of his father’s house.

THE WANDERER WAS OUT OF FOOD AND WITHOUT COMFORT:Luke 15:15. “And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!”

Of all creatures, perhaps none is more ravenous than hogs. They are, seemingly, always hungry. In this respect, the prodigal sustained a likeness to them. The pangs of inward need were becoming increasingly poignant. The food he was giving them was, as is usually true, the leftovers from tables well furnished. This reminded the hungry lad of the table back home which was always heavily laden with delectable and nourishing things. “How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare” (Luke 15:17). Then, with something of an emotional convulsion, bordering on self-pity, he moaned, “And I perish with hunger.” As grim as the very thought, it was good for him.

It was good for him that the extreme cost of a wayward course should be silhouetted against a gloomy and unpromising horizon, there to stare him in the face and say, “You chose it. You have no one to blame but yourself.” This is all so illustrative of the emptiness and drabness of a backslider. Worldly hilarity cannot satisfy the heart; sinful escapades cannot feed the soul; and hunger will assert itself. Physically, it makes the strongest assertion of all dominant urges.

In the spiritual realm hunger asserts itself as well, but the cry of the soul for nourishment is so persistently disregarded that there results only the emaciated form (morphosis) of godliness without the comfort of sacred communion and the refreshment of heavenly gifts. It is difficult to conceive how one can taste the rich, good things of the Lord and then attempt to subsist on the husks of the world. Yet the Israelites hankered after Pharaoh’s bill-of-fare when a table of good things was set for them by the hand of God in the wilderness.

Good Morning!When the earthly supports go, as go they will amid life’s varied and inevitable difficulties, the burden of grief can be greatly alleviated in the amiable atmosphere of cherished loved ones and trusted friends.

MEMORY HAD OPENED A DOOR:Luke 15:17. “And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18. I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19. And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”

The theme of every backslider’s heart, though unexpressed, cannot but be, “Oh, how tedious and tasteless the hours when Jesus no longer I see.” Departure from Him is a weird sojourn in the dark; Absence from Him (practically) extracts the sweetness out of life’s more pleasant experiences; Distance from Him imposes a tediousness resultant from the lack of His precious rest. This is what the Holy Spirit would have us see as our loss, were we through disobedience to turn into a wayward course. The prodigal’s heart was wrung with desperation and remorse. Then he remembered what it was like back home.

When memory began to operate, hope began to revive. He lost sight of the swine and moved in thought back over the divergent and disappointing path which he had so unwisely trodden, and felt, for the first time in ever so long, a sense of joy and happiness in an imaginary visit to the old homestead. There was Mother, a few more wrinkles in her sweet face, and Dad a bit weary in his pace. There was the home with all its warmth and welcome. What could with this compare? How foolish of any one to leave all this for the hazards of an uncharted course, infested with lurking dangers for such unseasoned travelers as himself. Yes, he remembered better days. This was the first step in the right direction.

Memory is essential, too, in spiritual rehabilitation. “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen,” the Saviour pleads. When the prodigal looked back through the door of memory, he opened to his weary soul and downcast heart the first warm rays of hope in many a day.

Good Morning!All heaven shares in the joy when a wayward person makes his way back home.

THE JOURNEY BACK HOME:Luke 15:18. “I will arise and go to my father, ..”20. “And he arose, and came to his father.”

Determination took control: He would go back entirely free of pride and haughtiness—those despicable traits which were so evident at his departure. He would confess that he had sinned against heaven and his father. He would plead unworthiness to be called a son. He would request only the favor of being an hired servant. He was in earnest. He could not do otherwise under the circumstances. He had failed. He knew the bitterness of terrible defeat. He would pay the price. He still possessed manhood, and now it was showing something of its long ignored strength.

Surely these words were spoken aloud—spoken with emphasized resoluteness. He meant to act. This was later proved to be true. He did just that. Much like faith and repentance in their complementary and simultaneous operation, memory, humility and determination comingled to produce an end that caused a whole household to rejoice and a sinning son to rejoice in a welcome that was overwhelming. The best robe, the signet ring, the shoes and the fatted calf were subordinate details in contrast to the embrace and kiss of the father. His want gave way to welcome; his humility faded into happiness and his loneliness was lost in the love and light and liberty of home.

“I say unto you,” the Lord Jesus says, “that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth . . . there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:7, 10). There are not two different “joys” in this quotation. It is one and the same joy, but it is first with the Father and then spreads to the legions of angels—and why? As the father ran compassionately to meet the son and preceded the household in the delight of his return, to be followed by the more general celebration, even so, it seems that our Father in heaven hurries to welcome the repentant wanderer who arises to return. Then all heaven shares the gladness.

Good Morning!The Apostles taught one way of Salvation, Peter summarized it in Acts 2:38.We must continue to emphasize this as the Plan of Salvation.

THE PLAN OF SALVATION:Acts 2:38: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

The preaching of Jesus Christ is the sum and substance of the Gospel. He is the only Savior. Salvation is in Him and in no other. By Him we obtain forgiveness of sins, through Him we are reconciled to God, from Him we receive the Holy Ghost, in Him we find victory for today and for eternity.

Jesus taught that failure to repent means to perish (Luke 13:3). Repentance means a change of mind or thought or views toward sin, self, and Jesus Christ. It also means a change of lifestyle. God has granted the privilege of repentance to every person. It is the goodness of God that leads a person to repentance (Romans 2:4). God does not want any to perish but He desires that all would come to repentance that they might be saved (2 Peter 3:9).

After Repentance comes water baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38). Water baptism should be done by immersion is evident by the meaning of the Greek word from which it is translated. ‘Baptizo’ means to dip, to plunge, to immerse in a liquid. The Name of Jesus demands sanctification, a separation from sin (11 Timothy 2:19). It is through His name that we obtain forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43).

The experience of Salvation reaches its completion in the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. The initial (first) evidence of the Holy Ghost Baptism is speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance (Acts 2:4, 10:44-47). The baptism of the Holy Ghost brings peace and joy unspeakable. But the surest evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost is when the person speaks in other tongues.

Good Morning!The Apostolic Church knew no source of a Christian experience outsideof the Name of Jesus. We must hold that Name uppermost in our hearts.

IN THE NAME OF JESUS: Acts 4:12: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

There is nothing in the world like a good name. The Scriptures tell us, “A Good Name is rather to be chosen than great riches” (Proverbs 22:1).

What's in a Name? The answer has to be everything, if that name is Jesus. There was healing for the lame man in the Name of Jesus “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. (Acts 3:6-8). There is protection in the Name of Jesus. There is Salvation in the Name of Jesus. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

The Name of Jesus is associated with sacrifice (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus instructed us that in His Name we would lay hands on the sick and they shall recover (Marks 16:16 18). The Name of Jesus is an exalted Name. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:” (Philippians 2:9).

The Name of Jesus is all powerful. At the very mention of His Name, Angles in Heaven fall prostrate at His feet, and Archangels sing praises to Him. At the mention of His Name devils cringe in fear and flee. On the earth every man is destined to some day bow to His Name (Philippians 2:10). We should never be afraid to do everything in the Name of Jesus.

The Name of Jesus is the only name by which a person can be saved. The Name of Jesus is the conquering banner of all Christians.

Good Morning!Abraham earned the title “Friend of God” by his faith, obedience, and devotion. These qualities of character will grant the same privilege to us today.

ABRAHAM THE FRIEND OF GOD:John 15:14: Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

God called Abram, who lived in the land of Ur, to separate himself from friends, relatives, and homeland. Abram, who later was called Abraham, obeyed God's call and through a gradual process of obedience, devotion, weakness and many tests, gained the prominent position as the “Friend of God” (Isaiah 41:8; 11 Chronicles 20:7; James 2:23). To this day Abraham is known by the Arabs as “El Khalil,” which means “The Friend of God.”

“The Friend of God.”A friend is one who is loved and esteemed above others and in whom a person places a special trust and confidence. Friendship consists of an unspoken covenant of mutual trust. Abraham is given the title of “The Friend of God” because he exhibited the kind of faith and the obedience that pleased God. (See 11 Chronicles 20:7, Genesis 18:17-19). God made a covenant of perpetual friendship with Abraham and his seed, a covenant that was renewed and confirmed upon the sacrificing of his son Isaac (Genesis 22:16-17, James 2:21-23).

Faith demands action and action brings results! This is evident in the account of Abraham's offering of Isaac, his only son. God's final seal of His covenant with Abraham was given “because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son” (Genesis 22:16). Thus Abraham was called “The Friend of God” (James 22:16).

Good Morning!Job's patient suffering shows that the righteous can serve God in the face of adversity.

JOB A MAN OF PATIENCE:James 5:11: Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

The real character of an individual is revealed under pressure. It is one thing to be joyful and at peace when everything is going our way, but it proves our faithfulness to rejoice and stay true to God when our world is falling apart. Job's superior faith in God was proven by his response to the intense pressure of his trials.

When Satan struck Job, he did it with a speed and coordination which would have caused any but the strongest to falter. But Job arose, rent his mantle, shaved his head, fell down upon the ground, and worshiped! He evidenced no bitterness, no questioning of God. Job said, “Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither; The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

We have no way of knowing in advance every detail of our walk with God, and thus we do not know exactly what He may see fit to require of us. But in order to be successful in serving God, there must be a total commitment to live for Him, no matter what happens. Jesus said, “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13).

We need to be grateful to God for including in His infallible Word the record of such men as Job that we may learn from those who experienced difficulties but who remained true to God through them.

Good Morning!Men that have God on their side should not allow themselves to be thrown by evil tidings into excessive state of alarm or dread. Take it to God In Prayer. That's what Jacob did.

JACOB--A PRINCE OF GOD: Genesis 32:28: And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

In our scripture reading Jacob had just received news that his brother Esau was coming with 400 armed men. What does Jacob do? He takes this troubling news to God in one of the most beautiful prayer ever recorded. (Genesis 32:9-12) The combined beauty, humility, boldness, simplicity, brevity and comprehensiveness of this prayer won for him a battle he did not have to fight, peace with his brother's wrath.

IT WAS A PRAYER OF HUMILITY:“Oh God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord, …. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant;”

IT WAS A PRAYER OF GRATITUDE:“for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.” (I was alone; now I am two bands of people accompanying me).

IT WAS A PRAYER OF FAITH:“Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children. (He cried as Martin Luther cried, “The Lord must save his own church.”) And God heard both prayers.

IT WAS A PRAYER OF EXALTATION: It was only hours later that God bestowed upon Jacob the highest homage He ever paid to a mortal man “A Prince Of God.”

Good Morning!The reason David was a man after God's own heart is because God,who “looketh on the heart,” saw character traits in David that pleased Him. God is still looking for men and women after His own heart.

DAVID A MAN AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART:Acts 13:22: “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.”

From the humble beginnings as a shepherd boy, David rose to be the greatest king to sit upon the throne in Israel. But the road from the pasture to the palace was not easy to travel, and to live in the palace was not without problems. Anointed by the prophet Samuel, David had to wait patiently for years under the most trying circumstances before he was to be crowned. To his credit, he persevered to become one of the most prominent figures in Hebrew history and the most famous ancestor of Jesus Christ.

David won early fame by defeating the giant, Goliath. When the people ascribed to him greater military skills than to Saul, jealousy grew in the heart of the Saul until David had to flee for his life. After Saul was killed in the battle against the Philistines on Gilboa, David was made king over Judah and later all the tribes.

David was a man of many talents and abilities. He was a musician, playing the harp in the court of King Saul. He wrote many songs or psalms, and promoted the use of music both vocal and instrumental in worship of Jehovah. The devotion of David to Jehovah stands above his talents, achievements. David's passion was to be loyal to the one true God, and was known as the man after God's own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22)

Good Morning!God has a purpose for our lives; if we will keep a right spirit, Hewill bring it to pass.

JOSEPH A MAN OF DREAMS:Genesis 41:38: And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?

Joseph was the child of Jacob's later life and elder son of Rachel. Jacob's favoritism to Joseph was very evident, probably because he was older when Joseph was born and Rachel, the mother of Joseph, was his favorite wife.

The special coat Jacob gave to Joseph was a type of garment worn only by Priests, rulers, and the wealthy. It pointed out Joseph as Jacob's choice for the birthright. Every time the brothers of Joseph saw the coat they began to hate him more.

Joseph soon added fuel to the fire of his brothers' envy by telling his dreams which prophesied that the rest of the family would bow down to him in the manner that people bowed to kings in those days.

Joseph looked beyond what his brothers had done to him and saw the hand of God. Had he developed a hard or unforgiving spirit, he would have missed the grace, blessing, and reward God was preparing in, for, and through him. Instead, he recognized God's will working through his adversity. He stated to his brothers, “God did send me before you to preserve life.”

Even though we are tested in an unkind and unjustified manner and have every reason to be bitter, we also can learn to bow our wills to God's will and say, “God Has something in it for me.”Read Thru The BibleClick the links below to read today's Bible verses online:1 Chronicles 1213 Ephesians 5 Psalm 87

Good Morning!Faith was the source of Gideon's valor. He progressed from disbeliefto doubt and then from doubt to faith.

GIDEON A MAN OF FAITH AND VALOR:Mark 9:24: And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Gideon was the youngest of a relatively unknown family from a lesser tribe of Israel. There had been no special training in his life. Gideon's humanity surfaced when the angel of the Lord appeared and declared, “The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.” (Judges 6:12) Gideon appeared to have been slow in accepting God's call. He had to be sure within himself that he was actually hearing from God. But from his outright disbelief at the first angelic appearance, we can chart the course of progress this man made. God saw him as a man of valor, but at first Gideon could only see himself as a fearful failure. The sign the angel gave caused him to move toward doubt. Soon the signs God so patiently provided erased his doubt and exposed the radiance of victorious faith.

Because he was willing to venture one step at a time he eventually walked his way into the pages of God's heroes of faith. We, too, can rise above unbelief and doubt to the heights of faith. There we will find victory from the bondage and servitude of sin.

Good Morning!Everyone wants to be in God’s will, but how do we know God’s will? In the next few days we will look at some of the ways to learn God’s will for our lives.

PRAYER IS ALWAYS THE FIRST THING YOU SHOULD DO:James 1:5. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.”

When you pray, pray for God's will to be revealed in your life. Jesus said to pray, “Thy will be done.” If you are praying because of your own desires, you are asking for the wrong things. But when you have reached the place when you are willing to accept God's will over your own, you have reached a turning point in prayer. God will see that you have surrendered your will to His and He will begin to reveal His plan to you. It may not seem like it, but God wants you to know His will for your life more than you want to know it yourself. You have to learn to trust that God has your best interest at heart no matter how bad it might appear at the time.

When you pray, pray in the Spirit. Paul said that the Spirit will pray for you 'with groanings that cannot be uttered.' God knows what you have need of more than you do. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:26).

The Spirit intercedes on our behalf, but God is really moved through the power of intercessory prayer. When your brothers and sisters join with you to pray for God's will in your life, it multiplies the power of that prayer. Colossians 1:9 “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;” When Paul observed the church at Colosse, he saw their faith, he saw their love and their hope, yet he noted that they lacked in knowledge of what to do and how to move on in Christ. Paul began to pray this prayer for them because he knew that ignorance of God's will is a constant source of error and heartache.

Good Morning!If your mind is not full of God's will it could be that it is full of things not of God, it could be that there are empty places in your mind that would invite Satan to come and fill.

GOD WANTS US TO KNOW HIS WILL:Acts 22:14 “And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.”

God is moved by intercessory prayer! When you find yourself surrounded on every side by the enemy, don't hesitate to ask those who really love you to pray for the knowledge of God's will in your life. God will reveal it to you. It is one thing to have full knowledge of God's will and another to be filled with knowledge. The scripture gives us knowledge of God's will in a corporate fashion. We know what the will of God is for every man and woman.

The scripture also states that God is able to do more than we can even think, therefore His will involves more than our minds can comprehend. Our finite minds cannot handle the full knowledge of God's will, only God knows that. Still, God can fill our minds with enough knowledge of His will to do what He specifically desires each of us to do.

Through intercessory prayer God can fill your mind with those specific tasks that He has called and enabled you to perform. I encourage you to find those men and women in your life who have your best interests at heart. Join together with them in intercession for God to saturate your mind with the knowledge of His perfect will.

The Church at Colosse would go through much tribulation without the knowledge of God's will in their minds, whether it be by their own thinking or by the attack of the enemy, Paul understood that he had to do something about this. He could not stay with them forever, so he did what he could; He prayed, and he invited others to pray with him! “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12).

Good Morning!You will be uncomfortable and miserable doing anything else outside of the will of God.

LET US STRIVE TO BE IN THE PERFECT WILL OF GOD:Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The calling of God is precious and a serious thing. Some, who are unsure of their calling finally realize they are called because of the burden it places on them. Like Jonah of the Old Testament, some may try and run from their calling, yet they will not be able to hide from it. Jonah found out that it was a very miserable life indeed, to ignore the call of God. Until you begin to respond to the call of God on your life you will feel very, very, empty. Once you are called, you are forever called, your calling is without repentance. God will take your life before He removes the calling from your life. “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Romans 11:29).

It is difficult to walk in your calling when it seems like all of Hell is against you. Peter was totally committed to Jesus and to the calling on His life. He really didn't have any clue of how tough it was going to get. Peter was so sure of the will of God in his life that he told Jesus he was willing to die for Him. Little did he know that he would be tested on that statement within hours of making it. Beginning at the garden when the soldiers came to take Jesus away, Peter began to act differently. This wasn't supposed to happen, this wasn't what Peter had signed on for. This was the beginning of a very confusing time for Peter.

After the crucifixion, Peter became more confused than ever. Jesus was dead, Peter had denied Him three times and he figured he was done with following Jesus. It seemed like all of Hell was against him. Peter began to run from God. He even gathered some of the disciples together and they went back to their old life, fishing. Peter was miserable, he was not himself, in fact they fished all night and caught no fish. Going back to his old life was not the answer, Peter was called of God, and he would be miserable doing anything else. Those who give up on the calling of God will live a life without comfort and without success.

Good Morning!God will lead you down a path that is clear to you if you only ask Him to. It is a learning process, ask God to teach you His will, if you really want to know it, He will reveal it to you!

WE NEED TO ASK GOD TO TEACH US HIS WILL FOR OUR LIVES:Psalms 27:11. “Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.”

It is easy to know you are in the will of God when He is blessing all of your efforts. But when the enemy has you surrounded on every side, it seems so much harder to see His will because you have become blinded by the enemy. David knew this better than anybody, he had a lot of enemies. God will lead you down a path that is clear to you if you only ask Him to. It is a learning process, ask God to teach you His will, if you really want to know it, He will reveal it to you!

Some people want God to put the handwriting on the wall in black and white, and then they will say yes or no depending on whether or not they agree with Him. It doesn't work that way. (God actually did one better than that, He put His handwriting in a book called the Bible). When you present yourself to God as a living sacrifice ready to do His service whatever it might be, then God sees that and responds to that. There is a renewing of the mind that takes place. The things of this world are no longer important to you. You are primarily concerned about pleasing God and doing His will.

The more you sacrifice your life to God, the closer you become to God. Eventually you tune in to God’s frequency, God begins to speak to you through His Spirit and His Word, and you can know and understand what He is saying to you. It becomes crystal clear. Don't be like Job and say that God has abandoned you, that is not the case. If you feel like the enemy is gaining the upper hand, read the 27th Psalm, it is an amazing proclamation of how God lifted David up above his enemies in the midst of the battle.

Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

Good Morning!Elijah was one of the most powerful prophets of God. Nobody doubted his calling, his prayers brought results. When Elijah prayed, fire fell from heaven. When Elijah prayed, rain fell from the sky. Through his prayers, Elijah altered the course of an entire nation. He was one of only two men in scripture who did not see death. There is no doubt that Elijah was in the perfect will of God.

LISTEN FOR THAT STILL SMALL VOICE:Hebrews 10:36. “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”1 Kings 19:12. “And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”

The book of 1 Kings reveals a time in Elijah's life when it seemed like all of Hell was rising up against him. Israel had forsaken the ways of God, the altars had been destroyed, the prophets of God had been slaughtered. Elijah found himself all alone and began to wonder if God was still with him. Jezebel had threatened his life so he decided to run to save his life, in fact, it got so bad, he asked the Lord to take his life. This was a man hunt, she had people looking for him everywhere, he was a wanted man, dead or alive. Elijah could feel the heat and he couldn't take it anymore.

Often times that is where we find ourselves. Yet, in the midst of running, God sends an angel to feed him. Finally he finds a cave to hide in and the Word of God came to him there, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” God wasn't asking about Elijah's physical location, He was asking about Elijah's spiritual condition. God wanted to know why Elijah had given up.

Listen to Elijah's response... “for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” God tells him “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice (1 Kings 19:11-12). Many times its not the big stuff that matters, but God’s still small voice.

Good Morning!In the midst of the mechanics of living, the Christian cannot lose sight of the eternal purpose of God. He must be conscious of the signs of the time, the worth of a soul, and of his responsibilities toward God. He must keep his sanity in a world that has given themselves over to pleasure and self-seeking.

BE SOBER AND WATCH UNTO PRAYER:1 Peter 4:7: But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

One of the most interesting meanings of the word sober is “well balanced.” a sober or well-balanced person will react properly to his surroundings and to his knowledge. He will be prepared with a proper defense—“the breastplate of faith and love, and, for an helmet, the hope of salvation.” Although the spirit in the world opposes the Spirit of Christ in our hearts, the strongest weapon the Christian has is love. Love overcomes evil. Furthermore, it converts the sinner, bringing light to his dark life. Here again through the love of the Spirit, we show God to the hungry world around us.

We should note while the breastplate of faith and love protects the heart, the helmet, which likened to our hope of salvation, enables us to meet danger and opposition that attacks the mind. With the helmet of salvation called hope, we surely can look at the present and the future in the right perspective. It is also most sobering to realize that we have an adversary who is so powerful that he is called the god of this world.

The beauty of it all is the fact that the resident Christ within us makes us the victor in every trial and test if we will only use the power given to us in the Divine Plan of Salvation. Not only are we forgiven for the past sins when we find our God in a personal experience, but we are also given power to overcome the enemy as we walk with God.